₦airaland Forum

The first bobsleigh team from Africa are on the verge of qualifying for the 2018 Olympics.

http://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/features/world-us-canada-39436437/39436437

vantageguy:
KEN SARO-WIWA
KADUNA NZEOGWU
DAVID OYEDEPO
FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI
CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE
SIMON KOLAWOLE
PAT UTOMI
BEN BRUCE
NASIR ELRUFAI
ALIMA ATTA
JENNIFER EHIDIAMEN
SAM ADEYEMI
ROSEMARY UKWU
MIKE IGINNI
GBENGA ARULEBA
JOE 0KEI-ODUMAKIN
NDUKA OBIAGENA
ASA

Wow. Thanks. Let's keep inspiring one another!

STRAUSS Means the following: 1.BOUQUET:
bounch of Flowers that can be used as gift, so
girls love it.......2. OSTRICH: it mean a person
who choose to ignore problems rather than try
and deal with them, so that is guys for you.......3.
finally it means FIGHT, and we all know that
parents hates fight and even animals.

This might help:


There is no Hebrew or Greek word
used in the Bible that precisely refers to sex
before marriage. The Bible undeniably
condemns adultery and sexual immorality, but
is sex before marriage considered sexually
immoral? According to 1 Corinthians 7:2 , “yes”
is the clear answer: “But since there is so much
immorality, each man should have his own
wife, and each woman her own husband.” In
this verse, Paul states that marriage is the
“cure” for sexual immorality. First Corinthians
7:2 is essentially saying that, because people
cannot control themselves and so many are
having immoral sex outside of marriage, people
should get married. Then they can fulfill their
passions in a moral way.
Since 1 Corinthians 7:2 clearly includes sex
before marriage in the definition of sexual
immorality, all of the Bible verses that
condemn sexual immorality as being sinful also
condemn sex before marriage as sinful. Sex
before marriage is included in the biblical
definition of sexual immorality. There are
numerous Scriptures that declare sex before
marriage to be a sin ( Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians
5:1 ; 6:13 , 18; 10:8 ; 2 Corinthians 12:21 ;
Galatians 5:19 ; Ephesians 5:3 ; Colossians 3:5 ; 1
Thessalonians 4:3 ; Jude 7). The Bible promotes
complete abstinence before marriage. Sex
between a husband and his wife is the only
form of sexual relations of which God approves
(Hebrews 13:4 ).
Far too often we focus on the “recreation”
aspect of sex without recognizing that there is
another aspect—procreation. Sex within
marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it
that way. God wants men and women to enjoy
sexual activity within the confines of marriage.
Song of Solomon and several other Bible
passages (such as Proverbs 5:19 ) clearly
describe the pleasure of sex. However, the
couple must understand that God’s intent for
sex includes producing children. Thus, for a
couple to engage in sex before marriage is
doubly wrong—they are enjoying pleasures not
intended for them, and they are taking a
chance of creating a human life outside of the
family structure God intended for every child.
While practicality does not determine right from
wrong, if the Bible's message on sex before
marriage were obeyed, there would be far
fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer
abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and
unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children
growing up without both parents in their lives.
Abstinence is God’s only policy when it comes
to sex before marriage. Abstinence saves lives,
protects babies, gives sexual relations the
proper value, and, most importantly, honors
God.
www.gotquestions.org/sex-before-marriage.html
xxxx


Do you not know that the wicked will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes
nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor
the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers
nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of
God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Kslib: No!! It's a warning...

By Segun Akiode

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur

[url]VENTURES AFRICA http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/06/how-to-conduct-a-career-swot-analysis/[/url] - Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person’s “course or progress through life (or a distinct portion of life)”. It can also pertain to an occupation or a profession. In a nutshell, your career is your life, choose wisely!

How can you be sure of the right path to follow in your career? Remember my earlier post – play to your strength, set your passion free and find the right people to work with. If you missed the post read it here. Today’s post is a continuation of our career work in progress journey and I would be unfolding another useful concept – how to conduct a career SWOT analysis!

SWOT Analysis is a very renowned business strategic planning tool useful to evaluate a project or business venture. The word SWOT is an acronym which means Strengths Weakness Opportunities and Threats. To a large extent, the SWOT analysis is responsible for quite a number of successful business ventures today.

Let’s do a simple analogy of the concept in real life – what is the strength of SKY News as an organization? Did I hear you say, breaking the news? Yes, you are right. What about E! Channel? – Entertainment. Would SKY News be able to compete with E!? Not really, because their core strength differs. Same holds for an iPhone and a Blackberry Phone, they differ on the basis of strengths. However, in the African market Blackberry phone seems to be the ravel of the moment now while the iPhone dominates the US and Europe. Why you would ask? – Market opportunities for both products differ. I can go on and on. This key strategic planning tool can be made adaptable to the career planning process and it would yield useful results.

What makes SWOT especially powerful is that, with a little thought, it can help you uncover opportunities that you would not otherwise have spotted. And by understanding your weaknesses, you can manage and eliminate threats that might otherwise hurt your ability to move forward. If you look at yourself using the SWOT framework, you can start to separate yourself from your peers, and further develop the specialized talents and abilities you need to advance your career.

Find outlined below, is a quick guide to how to conduct a Career SWOT analysis:

Strengths: By strengths we refer to the internal positive aspects of your career that are under your control and upon which you can base your career planning process. These areas include but not limited to educational qualification, professional certification/affiliation, work experience, technical knowledge of your field, personal characteristics, specific transferable skills etc. Why choose a career or apply to a job you are not qualified for? The idea here is to play to your strengths!

Weaknesses: By weaknesses we refer to the internal negative aspects of your career that are under your control and upon which you plan to improve. These areas include but not limited to lack of work experience, low grade, weak technical knowledge, weak job-hunting skills etc. The idea is not to focus on your weaknesses but acknowledge them and find ways to reduce their effect on your career.

Opportunities: By opportunities we refer to the external positive career conditions that are not under your control but you can plan to use them to your advantage. These include but not limited to economic growth in a field that leads to creation of more jobs, technological advancement/globalization, opportunity for professional development in your field etc. The idea here is for you to maximize these opportunities to your advantage.

Threats: By threats we refer to the external negative career conditions that are not under your control but you can plan to lessen its effect on your career aspirations. These include but not limited to negative economic trends that may lead to downsizing, talent war with job seekers that has superior skills/experience than you do, companies are not people with your class of degree etc. The idea is for you to plan to lessen these threats as much as you can.

The above list of Career SWOT analysis is not exhaustive, go ahead and make your own personal career SWOT analysis. Once, you have your SWOT result, you can use it as a guide as you plan to chose a career as well as apply for a job.

I believe this post has been a paradigm shift experience for you. The essence is for you to be better quipped in the career planning process and come to terms with the fact that you can actually take charge of your career!

Feel free to drop your views in the comment section of this post.

Till next time, we are all work in progress! http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/06/how-to-conduct-a-career-swot-analysis/

By Folake Soetan

VENTURES AFRICA – On a recent trip to Nigeria, Claudine Moore, award-winning CEO of C.Moore Media, an international Public Relations agency, sat down with Ventures Woman to share a bit about her life and work. Claudine’s extraordinary background and aptitude for seizing opportunities have propelled her to the top of her field, having been hosted by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his home which has housed famous political figures like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. Claudine was invited to the Prime Minister’s house after being named among the top 100 most influential Britons on the 2010 Black Power List, an award she considers special since it was given over a decade after moving to the United States. According to Claudine, “to be recognised for something by your home even after being away for so long… that was really special”. With her non-traditional yet deeply personal connections to Africa, hers is an interesting story.

Hi Claudine! Thank you for being here today. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you are doing in Nigeria?

Thank you very much for inviting me to be interviewed! I was born and raised in United Kingdom but my parents are from the Caribbean (Barbados and Jamaica). So even though the Nigerian Press has said I am American, I’m not (laughing). I moved to the US about 12 years ago, in 1999. So I’ve got the whole Caribbean, US, UK, African thing going on which in my mind means I’ve got the best of all worlds. I was educated in the UK, my first University was South Bank University where I studied Social Sciences and after that I wanted to study Psychotherapy. I was always very good with people and a good communicator so I thought that meant I needed be a therapist so I went to Regents College where I did a postgraduate diploma in Psychotherapy. I then went to Durham University for a Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling and after that I worked for a little bit in London before deciding that that was a good time to move to the US. Interestingly I didn’t have a job in the US and I wasn’t moving to go to school so it was quite daunting. I didn’t have any infrastructure around me in terms of job or a network of people but what I did have was my grandparents who had moved there from Barbados many years ago and I stayed with them for the first 6 months. And after about 6 months of being there I got my very first job which was working with McCann Erickson, a global advertising agency....

What part of your life connects you with Africa?

In terms of my connection with Africa, I’ve always identified strongly with Africa because my parents always taught us that it does not matter whether you’re West Indian, British or Caribbean, if you’re black you’re African full stop, no questions. (We like that!) So I’ve always identified strongly with the continent and I’ve always desired to work and extend the expertise and knowledge that I had towards its development. But I had to wait for the right time when the expertise and services I had to offer would be beneficial. So as I launched C.Moore Media and gathered experience working with different brands and received recognition from different awards in the US and UK, I thought now’s the time. So last year I was invited by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to be their keynote speaker and after the speech several organisations approached me about working with them. Our first client has been Arik Air and we do their international PR for them.

Fantastic! So what inspired you to start your own company?

I haven’t got one definitive reason as to why. However moving to America, everyone is so entrepreneurial, especially in New York, everyone has their job and something else they were doing. I found that people used to come to me for PR Advice all the time and whenever I left a position, brands from an organisation would come to me directly and say we’d like to work with you. So what started off as me being a consultant expanded into a company and that grew. We are still growing it, we’re still small though we have a strong reach spanning the US, UK and West Africa. But we’re still a small company and that’s one of the benefits of working with us because when you work with big global firms, they bring in the big talent and expertise to pitch the proposal and get the business but those who execute it are much more junior staff. It’s one thing to get the VP or SVP to bring the strategy together but if you’ve got a junior assistant doing all the execution, it’s not going to work....


Did you have any mentors along the way?

Yes! Certainly I had my father who always encouraged us to push forward and never let anyone tell you you can’t. In fact, he emphasised it so much that ‘can’t’ is not even a word in my vocabulary. So I strongly believe that anything you put your mind to, you can do. An old boss of mine at McCann Erickson is still today a trusted mentor and friend even though I left the company so many years ago. The truth is we’ve all had helping hands along the way and I believe mentoring is something that everyone who has succeeded has to do, reach back and help others who are coming along. In fact, I haven’t ever told anyone this before, so Ventures Africa is getting this first, what I want to start doing on my visits to Nigeria is to go to local high schools and speak to young girls about using education to help develop and elevate themselves and families. I’ve already done this a few times in the UK and would love to start that here. I tell young people, I failed my A-levels the first time and it was so hard getting my results because everyone kept asking what I was doing next year. While my friends were all going off to university and I had to be humble and say I was repeating the exams. The second time around I did the courses I actually wanted not the ones I felt I should do and I did much better. So failure is not a bad thing, we just need to learn how to use it. And when my friends hear what I’m doing now, they are not surprised because I’ve always had the dream of working in Africa.

You’ve been fantastic Claudine! Any final words of advice for entrepreneurs on the rise?

Always enjoy what you do and if you genuinely enjoy it you will be good at it. Have faith and believe in yourself. Surround yourself with people who are more successful than you, smarter than you and better than you. That way you will keep on learning. When there’s a challenge, feel the fear and do it anyway.


Read full interview here http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/06/%E2%80%98feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway%E2%80%99-interview-with-claudine-moore-ceo-c-moore-media/

Ventures Africa is currently recruiting intern(s) to assist with developing contents for its Pan-African news portal.
The successful candidate(s) will work closely with Ventures Africa’s editorial team from their Lagos office.

Ventures Africa is a Pan-African business magazine that chronicles the success stories of Africa’s greatest entrepreneurs and business leaders. We also publish real-time news online about business in Africa, investment, Investors, real estate, technology, African companies, entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, life style and travel etc. Our print edition targets market distribution in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

At Ventures Africa, we champion African capitalism by celebrating African success, free enterprise, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the rewards of hard work. We also serve as a business lens on different issues for Africans everywhere.

On our website www.ventures-africa.com, you will find news about:
¨ Business in Africa
¨ Entrepreneurs
¨ Leadership
¨ Investing
¨ Real Estate
¨ Lifestyle and Travel
¨ Technology
¨ Opinion (Op-Ed)
¨ Sports

Interested in applying for the six months internship placement? Here are the requirements:
Applicants must have a good command of English language
He/She must be familiar with Bloomberg.com’s style of writing
He/She must have a basic proof reading and editing skills and/or other relevant journalism experience.
He/She must be tech savvy and have web-posting experience.
He/She must enjoy writing and deadline-oriented.
He/She must be passionate about Africa and the business deals taking place on the continent.
He/She must be hard working, have a high sense of commitment, be open-minded, willing to learn and most importantly be a team player.
Candidates looking for a place to mark time NEED NOT apply
Successful applicant(s) must be willing to complete an editorial test.

Benefits:
Successful applicants will be entitled to different benefits, including an opportunity to attend a sponsored training course, during the six months period and/or represent Ventures Africa at high profile events.

How to Apply:
Send a copy of your CV and two references to info@ventures-africa.com, include a one-page cover letter on “why you are the right candidate for the job” and two sample writings (not more than 700-words each) focusing on any of the above listed categories.

Deadline for Application: June 1st 2012

Please help spread the word! http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/05/six-months-paid-internship-opportunity-at-ventures-africa/

here we go:
10. SHINNING KNIGHTS

At number 10 for me is the Mediterranean Knights of Libya. An odd choice. But these ones get into my list for their sheer determination. Before the 2012 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Libya had only played in two of the tournaments- in Egypt 2006 and 1982 when they hosted. The North African country isn’t one of the best African sides and so to brave the odds of the Libyan crisis of last year to seal qualification for the 2012 edition is one big achievement- especially if you consider that football giants like Nigeria, Cameroon and defending champions Egypt couldn’t qualify. Not only did the Mediterranean Knights qualify, they played some good football and caused upsets beating tournament favourites Senegal by 2 : 1 in the process and drew 1 : 1 with eventual champions Zambia. Some magnificent results if you ask me.
9. ORLANDO PIRATES’ INCREBIBLE TREBLE

The South African side are currently a match away from retaining their ABSA Premiership title (the South African league) with a game to go and leading their closest rivals Moroka Swallows by 2 points. But the Soweto side gets the nod from me for their brilliant outing last season. The Buccaneers won an incredible treble of the league (won on the last day), Nedbank Cup and MTN 8 Cup. They became the first South African team since inception of the league in 1966 to win a treble. Till date, they’ve also won 2 league titles and two MTN 8 cups in the last ten years. Not an easy feat.
8. GOLDEN BLACK SATELLITTES

Ghana’s 2009 under 20 team makes the list after the Black Satellites stunned the world to win the u-20 World Cup beating Brazil 4:3 on penalties in the final. Just before that feat, they also won the African version: the African Youth Championship. Some of the players from that team like Dominic Adiyiah and Andrew Ayew have gone on to play for the Ghana senior team, the Black Stars.
7. WORLD STUNNING SENEGAL

At the turn of the decade, 2002 to be precise, the Terenga Lions of Senegal was a huge force to reckon with in Africa boasting some of the continent’s finest players like Bouba Diop, El Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao to mention a few. The team narrowly lost to Cameroon on penalties in the AFCON finals but it was on the world stage that they announced themselves. They beat defending champions France by a single goal in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan causing one of the greatest upsets in the tournament. They also made history by becoming the second team (after Cameroon in 1990) to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup where they narrowly lost to Turkey.
6. ENYIMBA’S DOUBLE DELIGHT

Some twelve years ago, this Nigerian football club was not even amongst the top clubs in the country. But the emergence of Abia State Governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, somewhat changed their fortunes. A new stadium was built, players bought and in a country where football clubs are seen as political tools for state governors, Enyimba over the years has proved an exception to the rule. With chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, in the helm of affairs, the club has become the number one team in Nigeria with 5 league wins since 2002 as well as 2 FA Cups. However Enyimba’s crowning glory remains winning back to back CAF Champions League trophies in 2003 and 2004 as well as 2 CAF Super Cups. Those wins put the Aba Elephants into reckoning as one of the best teams in the continent.
5. GHANA’s NEARLY MEN

Following the footsteps of their feeder team that conquered the world a year earlier, Ghana’s Black Stars were the toast of the world in the 2010 World Cup. With the tournament hosted here on the continent, the other five African representatives failed to perform. Not so for Ghana. The team equalled Cameroon and Senegal’s record of reaching the last 8 of the tournament. In fact, they were a minute away from reaching the semi finals until striker Asamoah Gyan missed “that” penalty in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay. The team also finished as runners up to Egypt in the 2010 AFCON and semi finalists this year.
4. HIGH FLYING TP MAZEMBE

DR Congo side Mazembe makes the list for some wonderful football in the last couple of years. Not satisfied with dominating the country’s league scene by winning 4 titles in the last decade, Mazembe also ruled the continent winning the CAF Champions League back to back in 2009 and 2010. This equalled a record they had earlier set by winning in 1967 and 1968. But Mazembe went a step further by becoming the first African team to reach the final of the World Club Cup beating Brazilian giants Internacional 2 : 0 in the semi finals. Despite loosing the finals to Inter Milan, Mazembe already won the hearts of many proving that indeed, African football has come of age.
3. UNBELIEVEABLE CHIPOLOPOLO

Nobody gave them a chance. Not even one pundit said they were going to be champions. They had no star player, but Zambia’s Chipolopolo believed in themselves. Together, they pulled off an incredible feat at the 2012 AFCON winning the tournament in a country where nineteen years earlier, a generation of their country’s footballers had perished in a plane crash. That I have goose bumps while typing this just tells you how magical their journey have been. A love story that may never again be repeated.
2. ALL-CONQUERING AH-AHLY

It is not an easy feat being voted best African club of the last century. It means you’re in a class of your own. That is the story of this well organised Egyptian side who’ve continued their winning streak the last decade. 7 Egyptian league titles and 3 FA Cups is just a part of the story. They’ve also dominated the continent with 3 CAF Champions League crowns in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and 4 CAF Super Cups and are the team with the most appearances in the FIFA World Club Cup playing in 3 out of the 6 editions. I guess one word best describes Al Ahly: LEGENDS.
1. FANTASTIC PHARAOHS

And finally my best team of the last decade. Well it is still from Egypt. The country’s national team, the Pharaohs, are the record winners of the AFCON winning it 7 times. But winning the competition three times in a row between 2006 and 2010 is one fantastic achievement especially considering that in an era where African teams tend to hire foreign coaches, the Pharaohs were led on this victory lane by one of their own, Hassan Shehata. The Pharaohs also hold the longest unbeaten streak in the tournament going 19 games without losing. Best of all is the fact that their 2010 triumph came on the back of a 9 match winning run. That is just incredible!
So there you have it. Do you agree with my list? Do you think there’s a team I omitted?

http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/05/sport-top-ten-african-teams-in-the-last-decade/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

By Tomi Oladepo

VENTURES AFRICA – From a simple fascination of the beauty and delicateness amongst African women when making their hair in salon stalls at local market places, Ishaya Bako created a globally recognised and 2012 African Movie Academy Award-winning short film, Braids on a Bald Head. This short film has been showcased at international film festivals such as the Cambridge International Film Festival (2010), Festival Tous Courts Toulouse (2011), Seattle International Film Festival (2011) and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival France (2011) among others. Titles in Bako’s filmography are: School of Curry (December 2009), Blue Baby Elephants (July 2009), The Filipino Guide on How to be Invisible in London (April 2009).

Let’s meet Ishaya Bako (Twitter: @naijafilmmaker) and learn more about his career and of course the making of the award-winning “Braids on a Bald Head.”


How did you go into film?

My background was in Information Technology. I studied MIS at Covenant University (Nigeria), but I felt if I stayed in IT I would have killed my colleagues with blunt pencils [figuratively speaking of course]. Right from my industrial attachment, I figured that working in cubicles wasn’t my thing.

I had acted on stage in school and have always loved writing, so after a nasty accident during my youth service, my near death experience, I spent the following year soul searching and convincing the powers that film is it…

Then I got into the London Film School.

Before we travel to (talk about) London Film School, who are the powers?

Family, myself and God (laughs) but family mostly, I mean, they were going to fund film school - which as you know is pretty expensive.

So how did you convince Family that FILM was it?

I said it’s film or die. I said I’ll walk the streets of port harcourt and shave my legs – so they caved in at the leg-shaving threat…(laughs)!

But on a serious note I was pretty convincing when I said I wanted to do film…

And London Film School happened…?

No, London Film Academy happened first in 2007. I did a-month course there that cost £1,500. I just needed to make sure that FILM was it you know, to convince myself and my family.
I got a distinction for the course and acceptance to the MA program at the London Film School (LFS) in 2008 – that was surely more than a convincing sign.
It was after that I went to LFS and the rest they say is history – two years, and another Distinction result.

Congratulations Ishaya, great feats. Let’s unpack that bag of history and visit “Braids on a Bald Head”-

Braids on a Bald Head, my graduation film, the child you can’t help being proud of (Ishaya beams with joy).

Can you give us a peek, what is “Braids on a Bald Head” about?

It’s a day in the life of a Hausa (Hausa is a tribe in Northern Nigeria) hairdresser and how she’s able to ask for better in her marriage after an experience that questions her sexuality.

With Braids on a Bald Head, I wanted to make a good film… and I wanted to make a Distinction (in school).

What inspired you to write “Braids on a bald head”?

I wanted to tell an intimate story about women. It started in the hairdresser shop in the market. I wasn’t there making my hair… I was watching.

My mom owned a provisions store at the market so I just walked around, and came across this hairdresser shop.

I loved the intimacy and care that was in the hair shop…nurture, gossip, fights and advice all balled into one…between hairdressers and their clients.


Quite typical of hairdressing stalls in market places…

Yeah, so, it began there.

I wrote a hairdressers scene and my central character had to be a hairdresser, and then it evolved from there…creating a relationship with one of her clients that obviously could not be had.

When the Award came through, what’s the first thought that hit you?

***YEAH!

To be honest, I was in the process of creating this film so long and so deep I didn’t even know how good the film was or is – I’m talking about both the international recognition the film has garnered and winning the AMA award.

AMAA’s reputation has grown over the years, however, the person who really convinced me to put in my film was my friend, Onyeka Nwelue, an author, and I must say that I have no regrets.


…About international recognition, your film has been featured at various film festivals across the globe – what has been the reaction abroad?

Reaction has been fantastic. It was screened at my school and at the National Gallery in London at my graduation ceremony and it was a little overwhelming how much people loved the film.

Festival run began at the Cambridge Film Festival before its big opening at the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival in France, February 2011. The film was shown in front of 3000 people and the audience reception was awe-inspiring. I suppose people thought it was daring for an African film (the LGBT theme within) and they couldn’t quite believe a man made it and the subject was handled with such proficiency.

Needless to say, I have been really pleased with the reception of the film, and even with those that didn’t quite care for it (which I do not mind saying are very few). It was my graduation film from school so there was a lot to take from it.


What’s your perception of Nollywood, it’s always interesting to know a filmmaker’s point of view?

I have a love-hate relationship with Nollywood.

On one hand I have to admire the determination and ingenuity of creating an industry quite literally from very little to a multi-million dollar enterprise that employs a lot of people and has garnered an immense and loyal following the world over. On the other however, sometimes I feel sad at the kind of work that comes out from the industry.

Film is an art and a business. There’s a beauty to it when handled right and when in the wrong hands, well, it’s repulsive. Unfortunately in Nollywood, there are many wrong hands. However, I am hopeful. There’s a sort of revival in the arts in Nigeria- literature and music has escalated leaps and bounds in the last decade, it is only natural for film to follow. When that happens, you’re sure to find me at the forefront.


What talents would you like to work with in Nollywood, since it isn’t all bad?

I’d really love to work with Olu Jacobs and Zack Orji. I think pitting them against each other in a political thriller will be explosive. I’d also love to work with Mannura Umar and Lucy Ameh again. They were fantastic in my film and I think given the right material, can do amazing things.


…and on the international scene, which talents catch your fancy?

There are so many actors I admire and would want to work with on the international scene. Top of my list would be Dakota Fanning and Ryan Gosling. They are two actors I really respect and admire and I’ve followed them from their early works till now. Ms Fanning has worked with practically all the heavyweights in the industry and has held her own with anyone she’s shared the screen with and Mr Gosling just has an edge a lot of his contemporaries can only dream of. They are actors I really admire.


As an award-winning filmmaker, do share with us what you feel are the qualities of a good film?

I’d say SOUL makes a good film.

It might sound cliche or pretentious, but you know a good film when there are goosebumps on your arm, tears in your eyes or you keep remembering it three days after you saw it.

It’s the characters, the story, the direction, the set design, the music, the dialogue. Film is beautiful, but difficult to pull off; there are so many elements that make up a good film.

At the core of it, I’d say every good film has a soul from Hitchcock to Del Toro!

http://www.ventures-africa.com/2012/05/interview-with-ishaya-bako-amaa-film-award-winner/

By Ola’ Jacob Ajayi

“The secret of my success is a two word answer: know people” – Harvey S. Firestone (Founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber)

VENTURES AFRICA – Starting a business is all about self-sacrifice and luxury denial. Everybody wants to use a Porsche (Car and Phone)- a dedicated monthly savings over a period of time can make this happen. But how many people are willing to commit the same level of dedication saving towards launching a business?

As a budding entrepreneur, the first source of capital for your business is “YOU”. How do you convince potential investors to finance your idea if you don’t even have any capital capacity to push? The only way to do this is if you have a past success that speaks for you. Imagine Dangote trying to raise money for a new venture – his idea is enough to get funding based on his past and present success.

We receive different e-mails daily with the same big question- how do I raise capital for my business? It will take me 20 years to save up for my business. How much do I really need to get started?

Most ventures started by entrepreneurs were bootstrapped before investors took interest in them. Forget what commerce taught us in school about the source of funds for a sole proprietor being but not limited to family, bank loan, investment etc.

While some investors might believe in your sweet business plan, others would not. Not because you are not doing something right, but because they would rather spend their hard earned cash on something else. If your family does not invest in your business why do you think the bank would? Not to mention your lack of collateral.

Instead of withdrawing back into your shell because of the lack of money to start your business, come to terms with the fact that you are the only one who can breath life into it. Once you get the business off the ground, people will come begging you to invest. But you must take that first important step of saving for the big launch!

Are you ready to do away with some luxuries? Ready to sacrifice now for a better future?

The following steps could be of help:
1. Go for what you need, not what you want. Research shows that we can do without 7 of every 10 things we buy. This gives you an opportunity to save a good part of your income.

2. Be ready to push your idea with every penny you have now. Ever heard of the quote “done is better than perfect?” A running business gets investment faster than a business that is sketched on paper.

3. Have plan A to C for your business. If investment doesn’t come, what happens? Wind up? Hell No! Find a means to push it slowly till the business is self-sustaining.

4. Know People – the power of networking must never be underrated.

5. Make some noise about your business – people can only appreciate and get interested in what they know. Quality service and media attention will do this for you.

6. Be a unique solution provider. You can’t be another Facebook. You need something better to catch my social attention online.

7. Have a plan for how the dollars will keep pouring in. Investors are more interested in how much profit they will make. They are not Santa Claus.

Have you started saving yet? That 9-5 that pays well is not a bad springboard! Remember: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained!

VENTURES AFRICA >> http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/2012/diary-of-an-under-30-ceo-when-capital-is-not-enough/2474

By Ola’ Jacob Ajayi

“The dream is not something you see in sleep, the dream is the thing that doesn’t let you sleep” – A.P.J Abdul Kalam

VENTURES AFRICA – It was 3:45pm on a sunny afternoon. I rushed to the Bank to quickly get some cash and jet off to a meeting on the Island. The meeting was scheduled for 4:20pm, and a glance at my wristwatch showed I was 50 minutes away from the venue.

“Man, I have just 2 minutes to spend in your bank, please do make the transaction fast.” The young man at the counter collected the slip from me, punched some keys into his system and softly said “ Sir, sorry you will have to wait till 4pm before I attend to you.” I insisted that he answer me or I report him to his superior.

He moved closer and whispered, “I am tired of this Job! I need to talk to a young man like you who runs a successful business.”

My nerves relaxed. I gave him my call card but he begged me to spend 10 minutes with him because he had already made up his mind to resign without any job offer or business opportunities.

Unemployment in the country covers both the “I –Have-No-Job” and the “I-Don’t-Like-My-Job.”

We have many graduates leaving home every morning- all dressed up, only to return at night with nothing to show for it, except more stress. Most of them end up spending the meager salary on transportation. The better part of their life is either spent on 3rd mainland bridge traffic jam (in Lagos) or at the office. Home is just a place to take their bath and change clothes.

We no longer live in a world where the course you study at the university dictates how successful you are or how much you earn. I know a Doctor who earned N15,000 monthly for one and half years before he changed career. I also met a Masters Degree holder working in a private secondary school. His take home was N9,200 monthly.

The story is no longer go to school to become an accountant, chemical engineer, doctor, lawyer or xyz profession that will make you the talk of the town. It is now a new world with a new way of life. Get educated, Get smart and rule your world. I chuckled when a banker friend told me last year that there are 2 types of staff in the bank; the Bankers and the Bank Workers- 85% are bank workers.

Though we call it 9am – 5pm active day at work, it is more than that! I call it 5am – 9pm. Workers sometimes spend more time on the road and the office than they do at home. The thought of many, like the young man that stopped me at the bank is that they need to start their own business. Resign from this headache-giving job and start something they can call their own. Wake up anytime, Go golfing with their partner, send the kids on vacation and call the accountant to pay some tangible millions into their account.

Yes, it is possible . . . . But the truth is if you want an initial freedom, being an employee is better than starting your own business because you will never do 9 -5 on your business. Business owners spend every minute thinking and working on their project. No weekends, No Xmas, No Easter. Every day is a working day.

So before you resign from that job to start your own business, you must know that entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted . . . . . it could be more demanding than the job you hate with so much passion.

Even if you are not truthful to everybody, it will help you a lot if you can tell yourself the truth. Do you think you have the courage to push your own business? Many left their jobs, ventured into business, failed and rushed back to the labour market.

Before you turn in that resignation letter to escape the 9 -5 syndromes, sit back and answer these questions:

1.Why do I want to start my own business? Is it because I hate the stipend I get from my employer or I had this plan of being on my own a long time ago?

2. Is my office environment; boss, co-workers, infrastructure pushing me away?

3.Can I combine my 9 -5 with my business tentatively?

4. Am I gaining any experience from this paid job?

5. Will I miss anything if I resign now?

6. How much do I know about the business I want to start?

7. How do I cope if I fail to breakeven in 2 years? (Backup Plans)

8. Do I have a little money set aside that can take care of me for 3 months?

9. Am I really ready for a change?

Resigning from a paid job to start a business is not as easy as we think. Talking someone into it is even more difficult. The best advice is to sit down and talk to your mind. Whatever decision you make now determines where you will be in future. Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained! via VENTURES AFRICA http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/2012/diary-of-an-under-30-ceo-escaping-the-9-5-syndrome/2022

Cool. I like the language :-) Ever heard a yoruba man speaking hausa? music to the ears!

GLO credit balance read N9million this morning :-) I didn't fall for it though, cos I know Mike Adenuga is not stupid :-)

By Folake Soetan

VENTURES AFRICA – Few young women today can lay claim to entrepreneurship. Fewer still can claim innovation. As Harvey Firestone rightly said, if you have ideas, you have all you need and there is no limit to what you can do. Ventures Woman has profiled many talented entrepreneurs and we can all draw life lessons from each of them. I think Susan Mashibe isn’t a little different, she’s a lot different! She was listed last week as one of the younger generation of Africa’s 20 powerful business women and we want to tell you why. What on earth would make a young African woman start a private jet logistics firm in Africa? Simple: an idea.

Her story: Susan Mashibe was born in a small town in Tanzania called Kigoma, and at 4 years old her parents flew to Dar es Salaam leaving her behind with her grandmother. Susan recalls standing on the shores of Lake Tangayika watching a plane take off and saying to herself that if she could be the one flying the plane her parents wouldn’t leave her behind again. Her dream of becoming a pilot was born. In 1993, Susan Mashibe went to Western Michigan University, in the United States for school and pilot training with her dream. For her first job, she said “I was flipping burgers for the summer” working at a local burger king. Her goals never changed however and her ultimate career dream was to become a 777 Captain pilot for Delta Airlines; in fact, TanJet aviation was not “in the plan”.

Susan completed her training in 2001 with great hopes for landing the Delta job. Yet when the horrific plane hijackings of September 11, 2001 claimed the lives of hundreds and threw America into chaos, she watched the aviation industry crumble and all chances of being sponsored for a work visa disappear with it. Susan returned home twice in the hopes that she would be hired locally while waiting for the aviation industry to recover, and then she would return to America to pursue her Delta dream. For a long time, no one hired Susan, she was overqualified! Her training in the US, as both an aircraft engineer specialising in corporate aircraft and certified commercial pilot placed her far above even the most experienced Tanzanians. At this point, Susan didn’t have a job or much experience but what she had was an idea. In fact the idea did not originate with her but from a South African client she encountered while still working in the US. She told him of her expiring visa and plans to go home and her desperation for any job just to be near aircrafts, “I was willing to do anything, even to load luggage…” On seeing her CV, the client asked her why she would be willing to work for just anyone with the experience she had, and told her that she could employ herself and provide services for clients like his company who operated private jet flights to Mwanza, Tanzania. Powerful words that formed the basis of what TanJet is today.

Susan took the idea that had been planted and through resilience, hard work and integrity, built TanJet into a business that has revolutionised business aviation in East Africa. She provides services for such clients as Fortune 500 company executives, military flights, monarchs, Heads of States and celebrities.

In 2011, Susan was selected to benefit from a Fortune/US State Department Mentorship programme for promising women global leaders where she was connected with Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Location and Local Services at Google Inc. and also the youngest member of the Google executive operating committee. She spent a month shadowing Mrs Mayer’s personal and business life and learned three key things on personal, business and community levels. On the personal level, she saw how Marissa Mayer balanced her work life with her commitment to her family and friends as well as her love for art. That balance is in itself an art! For African women, family is such high priority that mentoring in this area is invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Read more via Ventures Africa http://www.ventures-africa.com/leadership/desperate-for-any-job-to-be-near-aircrafts-tanjet-was-born-in-tanzania/1828

SEAN NDIHO OBEDIH, founder of Britain’s first multi-ethnic brand of first aid products, was recently interviewed by Ventures Africa. His business idea was first conceived in 2006 and launched a few years later. In recent years, Ynotplast metamorphosed into Urban Amour with new products to meet the growing demand. In Sean’s words “We have developed skin toned nasal strips, we have mosquito repellent patches and we are also developing various heavy duty first aid kits for sports and office buildings.”

Read the interview below to learn more about his venture and start-up experience. http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/interview-entrepreneurs-are-like-architects-says-sean-ndiho-obedih-founder-of-ynotplast/1301

Great words Tani, Great advice! I hope they are listening and reading!

Chinedu is getting increasingly worried that he has been unable to find suitable employment. He felt with his skills and knowledge, he ought to be the toast of employers, but that is not the case.

He often hear these cynical comments:
“Those we study studied abroad behave as if they are better than those of us who studied in Nigeria”,
“Unemployment is high so preference should be for those who are in Nigeria not some returnees”
“They say they have MBA, check it out, it’s MBA from some mushroom university abroad”

The longer it takes from graduation to finding regular employment, the more difficult it would become to eventually find a suitable job. Chinedu is unhappy and worried.

What are his options?

Chinedu feels unwanted at Home. He had to leave the relative comfort of the UK at the end of studies. He is now a virtual citizen; he feels hated abroad, unwanted at home!

What will you do if you were in his shoes?

Drop your comments below please. Chinedu need to hear from you!

Full story here: http://www.ventures-africa.com/opinions/a-diaspora-dilemma-hated-abroad-unwanted-at-home/1215

It is Easier to Make Money Here, in Nigeria : http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/diary-of-an-under-30-ceo-it-is-easier-to-make-money-here/963

If you are ready to take your success to the next level, here are some tools to create your own personal brand: http://www.ventures-africa.com/leadership/how-strong-is-your-personal-brand-are-you-a-bmw-honda-or-kia/1111

Money making is easy! Hear this: “In Nigeria, you people have the market, imagine 150,000,000 people? My CEO gave me a task to sell this product (pointing at his big bag) to just 1,000,000 Nigerians at N2400 each” – Please do the maths" Click here to read more: http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/diary-of-an-under-30-ceo-it-is-easier-to-make-money-here/963

Ventures Africa http://www.ventures-africa.com/ is a monthly Pan-African business magazine, which will champion African capitalism by celebrating African success, free enterprise, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the rewards of hard work. The magazine will hit newsstands across Africa next month!!!

You can contact us via Twitter: https://twitter.com/venturesafrica

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/venturesafrica

Magazine business is booming! Ours still on the way!

In this article, 'Fisayo Soyombo gives an interesting analysis of how much Nigerians who were deported must has lost.... "To hit the nail on the head, South Africa will have to follow up its apology with paying adequate compensation to victims of what it has itself acknowledged as wrongful deportation. Imagine the costs of non-refunded air tickets, cancelled hotel bookings and botched conferences and meetings. Consider the psychological costs of the embarrassment, the denial of access to food and water for a whole day and the sheer torture of the futility of their missions in South Africa." Click the link to read the full article! Coment, share, re-share! http://www.ventures-africa.com/opinions/south-africa-apology-down-compensation-to-go/966

*deadest*

Oh ok! Get what you mean. My business is to tell the stories of entrepreneurs. you can check us out at www.ventures-africa.com

Lmao! What is the 16th sigh?

I think everyone is a business person

The ultimate dream of every young man is to retire at 40- build mansions globally, sleep in London, wake up in New York and spend the evening in Nigeria; to live life to the fullest…

Read more: http://www.ventures-africa.com/entrepreneurs/diary-of-an-under-30-ceo-start-small-scale-big/652